The construction of the first house continued after their brief lunch.
The sounds of hammering, sawing, and wood shifting filled the entire area as Sebas and Martha worked diligently under the afternoon sun.
As for the mistress and her maid—the two non-physically active women were left on the sidelines, watching the slow but steady progress of the construction.
Anastasia, of course, continued her observations, her mind diligently absorbing the process for her aspirations as the lord of this region.
Bella was also observing their work, but for her specifically, she waited with a sense of readiness, preparing herself to assist with any possible needs that might arise... which, fortunately, hadn't happened yet.
The construction itself was going smoothly... too smoothly, in fact, that it seemed it might even be finished before sundown...!
Neither of them had expected the house to be completed in just a single day, but from the look of it, the house itself was already halfway done...!
'Is it because of the somewhat small size...? Or is it because Sir Sebas is here...?' Anastasia wondered, amazed at how quickly it was coming together.
The butler had once again showcased his feat of strength, carrying large amounts of material all by himself with relative ease.
She was also glad that her knight, Martha, was surprisingly knowledgeable when it came to construction and had carefully led the work with skill and precision.
However, there had also been some initial concerns from Anastasia and Bella... that Sebas and Martha might have conflicting approaches, but surprisingly...
"Sir Butler, please hand over that plank," the brunette knight called from atop the roof.
"Okay~," the butler replied with his usual nonchalant tone, promptly handing over the requested plank before returning to his task.
They were working in perfect sync, a harmony between strength and knowledge that seemed effortless.
Though sometimes... they both had their little moments.
"Miss Knight, you're not gonna break the roof with all that stomping, are you?"
"W-what?! I would never! Stop your yapping and get back to work already!"
Anastasia couldn't help but sigh at her butler's antics, while Bella smiled wryly at the exchange. However, both of them were quietly relieved that the two seemed to be getting along just fine... well, somewhat.
And eventually, the sun reached the edge of the horizon, slowly sinking...
"...And done!" Sebas exclaimed loudly as he installed the front wooden door of the house.
He took a step back to admire his handiwork, then came down from the porch of the house by the staircase.
Waiting in front of their new house were Anastasia, Bella, and Martha, who was wiping the sweat from the day's work.
As he stood in front of them with a wide grin, Sebas spread his arms out in a grand gesture.
"Ladies... I present to you, your new home!"
Anastasia's eyes widened, and Bella took a sharp breath as they both stared at the house, taken aback by the finished result.
The wooden house stood at 6 by 4 meters wide, modest but welcoming. It was lifted slightly off the ground, supported by solid wooden beams.
The front porch stretched out across the whole house, with a sturdy, humble staircase leading up to the door.
Simple wooden windows framed each side of the house, letting in the soft evening light. The wood, still fresh from the day's work, gave off a natural scent that mixed with the cool breeze.
It wasn't as grand as the many houses or even mansions that the kingdom's nobles owned, but... there was something undeniably warm about it—like it had a soul of its own.
"Lady Ana," Sebas said, gesturing with a flourish, "shall we go inside?"
Anastasia took one more glance at the wooden house... before nodding, her voice soft but filled with awe. "Yes... let's."
As they stepped inside, the first thing that struck them was the vast emptiness.
The interior of their new house stretched out before them in one open space, with only a few wooden partitions dividing the area. The ceiling, though not particularly high, gave it an airy, welcoming feeling.
They moved toward the center of the house itself... as the faint scent of fresh wood filled the air—a lingering reminder of the house's recent construction.
The floor beneath their feet was made of smooth wooden planks. Simple but solid underfoot, with, fortunately, no creaking whatsoever.
Still, this vastness reminded them that there was no furniture or anything in this house... yet.
"You know, I could try making some bed frames," Sebas suggested with a casual shrug, "especially if you want to sleep in an actual bed, my lady."
"No... it is quite alright," Anastasia replied softly, shaking her head as she glanced around the empty space. "I would not want to tire you or Martha further after both of your efforts today. Maybe tomorrow we can consider that."
"If you say so, my lady," he chuckled, but there was a gentle undertone in his voice. "Well, putting aside the lack of furniture here..."
His mischievous smile faded, replaced by a warmer, kinder one.
"...What do you think?" he asked softly.
Anastasia gazed back at the house once more, standing still for a moment—absorbing the very warmth of the space. She looked around again, beginning to memorize the layout of this house...
Her house.
Her gaze then turned to her other two aides: her maid and her knight.
Bella was still astonished by the house, her eyes sparkling with wonder. Martha, on the other hand, was admiring the very house she had helped build, a proud smile etched on her visage.
Then Anastasia turned back to her butler.
Sebas... still maintained that warm smile of his.
She remained silent, and he patiently waited. The other two, noticing their mistress's silence, also waited quietly.
And eventually, she finally opened her lips.
"I like it."
With those simple words, her three servants became ecstatic, relieved that their mistress had finally regained something she had once lost...
A place where she could call 'home.'
Her butler then took a deliberate step forward, his voice warm as he spoke...
"Welcome home, my lady."